Style is inbuilt but there are some who still need to work their way through to the top by finding their identity when it comes to their style and this set of people could be termed as Beginners. The first few steps into the world of men’s style can be very cumbersome and most times difficult to assimilate but no need to fret hopefully, these few pointers will allow you to avoid a few pitfalls, and save you a bit of money as well.
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1) TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR SILHOUETTE BEFORE VISITING YOUR TAILOR
This advice might seem a bit out of place it is something you might have heard over and over again, this is generally about taking care of your body by just doing basic exercise, it is strictly common sense. If you feel the need or the want to start working on your personal style even if only so slightly , then be mindful of your silhouette and start working on improving it.
A few hours of physical activity each week, a bit of walking, slightly less alcohol, and much less excess at the dinner table will do more for your silhouette than what the best master tailor in the world could ever achieve and for a much cheaper price too. It is a personal investment to attend to oneself, and although it might take some real effort, it can yield incredible results.
What’s more, I’ve noticed that gentlemen who started their sartorial revolution by a bit of work on their silhouette which for some means weight loss, particularly around the belt area, usually continued to improve. Indeed, experiencing true personal elegance is such a life-changing experience that going back to one’s old ways is not an option.
2) QUICKLY LEARN ABOUT THE THINGS YOU SHOULD AVOID, DEPENDING ON YOUR BODY TYPE.
It is advisable to be mindful of any gross errors you might make before buying a suit or a pair of shoes. Knowing a few elementary rules will help you in that regard. Nothing complicated here : the rules that dictate what you should avoid wearing depending on your morphology are easy to memorize. Here are a few, If you are stout just like me avoid windowpane patterns, patterns that are on a large scale in general, and belts. Be careful with double-breasted suits too. Favor plain suits, small stripes and braces. If you are slim, Avoid small stripes and slim lapels. Favor windowpane patterns, large stripes, and generous lapels. If you are short in stature : Avoid large checks, lapels that are positioned too low on the chest, and low cut pants. If you are tall, Avoid high lapel notches, ridiculously slim lapels, and small stripes. Favor large patterns, heavy fabric, peak lapels, and patch pockets.
3) FORCE YOURSELF TO BUY CLOTHES THAT PROPERLY FIT YOU
Notice that I didn’t say “try to”, but “force yourself to”. Force yourself to buy jackets, suits and coats that fit you. Buying a piece of clothing to one’s precise proportions has become particularly counter-intuitive dating back to the 1980’s, with the erroneous and pervasive belief that loose-fitting clothing will be more comfortable than clothing that is properly fitted. This, my friends, is heresy, dating from a time when street wear and XL clothes were almost considered the norm. Any gentlemen who’s had the pleasure of wearing a properly fitted suit with high armscyes will agree that the incredible comfort, the freedom of movement, and the overall visual impact is beyond comparison. Buying your first suit or jacket in your proper size is an extremely important step that we can’t stress enough. If you can’t afford bespoke quality or made-to-measure, here are a few things to pay attention to :
- The shoulder line should look natural ; the jacket shoulder has to sit comfortably on your deltoid muscle’s external half.
- The active button – the one used to button the jacket, should slightly tug at the fabric when closed.
- After closing the jacket, make sure there is no lapel gape (the unsightly gape between the lapel and the torso), nor any collar gape (the ungodly gape between the collar of your shirt and the collar of your jacket)
- While checking all of the above stand upright !
4) FIND YOURSELF A DEDICATED ALTERATION TAILOR
You will need to have some adjustments done at one point or another during your journey, particularly if you can’t afford bespoke or made-to-measure. A skilled alteration tailor can have a considerable impact on improving your suit cut, by adjusting the fit to work better with your body type. Though a fundamental part of the elegant life, it is often hard to find the right person for the task. Nevertheless, finding the right pair of hands is well worth the search, and should be considered a priority by any gentlemen serious about their style. The right person will incidentally become an invaluable companion for sound advice. It is usually not advisable to leave any adjustments to be made at the same store where you bought your item, unless they employ an actual tailor. If that is not the case, then always favor your dedicated alteration tailor.
This is a handful to digest i know, but taking this four tips into consideration then you are on your way to self actualization of your style. Make sure to check back soon for the continuation of the next big steps to take.
